Load indicator



May 25 1926.

D. F. AXELSON LoADNICAToR Filed oct. 15.*'1924 ,45 4ing of t Patented May 25, 1926.

l 1,585,634 rAraN'rxorrica.

DELBEBT F. AXELSON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO AXELSON MA- CHINE COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, -A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA..

toen INDICATOR.

appiioatinaled october i3, i924. serial No. 743,311.

This invention relates the oil producing industry and is particularly applicablev to apparatus employed for the purpose of.

pumping oil from a well, although it has many l other uses.

Oil is ordinarily pumped from a pump barrel situatedat or near the bottom o a well, in which. a pump plunger is reciprof cated by means of a walkingbeam mountedat the surface of the well. The plunger 1s :connected to the lwalking beam. through a string of sucker rods,l there being a polish rod attached to the upper end of the sucker rod string which extends through a stufing 16 box in the casinghead of thewell. The up- Aper end ofthe polish rod is. pivoted by a stirrup on one end of the walking beam;

It oftentimes occurs that during the operation of the pump,.sand will lodge between a0 theI barrel and the plunger, causing an attrition of these parts. The wearin away of these parts induces a leakage t erebetween, which, if ap-preciable, will noticeably reduce the efficiency of the pump.

'i8 Another detrimental circumstance encountered in pumping is'the freezing of the plunger in the barrel, which may damage various parts and which causes considerable delay4 i because of the necessity of freeing the plungao-er before the operation of the pump 'may again be commenced, this generally meaning 1-the elevating ofthe pump to the surface.

z A' frequent-cause of this freezing is due to an amount of sand being lodged between the f' 1135i .plunger andthe barrel, sufficient to frictionally prevent relative movelnent therebetween.

It is an object 'of this invention to provide a means .which will make evident any l 4&0` abnormal sand: or load condition of the pump. -By providing a device having this feature, itis possible to immediately disj cern any leakage of the pump, and to perceive anyl ting down of the apparatus before a great deal of damageis done. My invention 'may be inthe form'of a means arranged for 'dis-5 posalvbetween the olish rod and the walking'beam of the wel and comprisesa` 'means indications of sanding-up or `:frees-1 e'plunger. This will permit shutoil being pumped.V Under.

amount.` If the vpressure indicated by the device reduces below this .certain amount, it is known that some leakage occurs at thel bottom of the well.. If the indicated pressure increases above this certain amount, it indicates that additional friction is present' between the pump plunger and the barrel,

therebetween.

v which is generally due tosandbeing lodged Other objects of the invention and the especiall advantages thereof will be dent hereinafter.y f

vReferring to the drawings which arefor illustrative purposes only,

made evi- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing 70 Fig. 2" is a artially sectioned view otm'y invention in use.

device on a s 'ghtly enlarged scale.;

' Fig. 3 is al section taken substantially as represents a pump plun er which is reciprocated in a pumpbarre 12 by means of a string of sucker rods 13.v Secured to the upper end of the sucker rod string 13 is a polish rod 14, which extends through a casing head 15.l Secured to the polish rod 14 'a distance above the casing head 15 is a polish rod clamp 16 having slots 17 in which clamp-I in members 18 reside. The clamp 16 provi es-a central passage 19, and the clamping vmembers 18v provide passages .20, through which passages the polish rod 14 extends. On the threadedv pins 21 of the clamping members 18, nuts 23 are screwed for the purpose of forcibly oiisettin the passages. 2O of. the members 18,- and t e passages 19 of the bodv 16, in va manner to retain the*- clamp rig'i ly in place by the polish rod 14. The clamp may be of any eiicacious design,-

`the one 'shown being very favorable.

A supported memberl 25 provides a threaded projection26 which is screwed into the threaded bore 27 of the clamp 16. The vthreaded pro'ection 26 is formed on the lower end of a c 'ndrical portion .30, which provides a cylin ricalouter face 31, there be ing a central opening 32 throu h the supported member 25, through whic the upper ing li end of the polish rod 14 extends. l Projectin downwardly and to the exterior of the is a sup orting member 41 which provides an annu ar projection 42, the upper end 43 of which extends into the lower end of the annular channel 36 in a manner to close the mouth thereof, this tubular projection havin an inner face 45 which engages the cylindrical ace of the lip 34.

The weight of the sucker rods and the weight of the oil carried by the plunger is transferred from the supported member 25 to the supporting member by means of an intervening medium 1n the form of a liquidv l 50, such asglycerine or any other viscous iuid, situatedin the upper portion of the annular channel 36. The weight placed on` the supported member-through .the sucker rod exerts a pressure on the liquid `which actuates the mechanism of the gauge 38 and thereby causes the pointer of the gauge to indicate the magnitude of this l'weight in pounds pressure. In order to revent the liquid 50 :from leaking from t e annular channel 36, I provide 'a cu leather 52, as clearly shown 1n Fig. 4. his cup leather 52 is secured against the upper face 53 of the annular projection 42 by means'of a circular ring 54, which is in turn secured in place by screws 55 which thread into the projection 42. In order to insure enga ement between the lips 56 and57, of the cup eather. 52, with the cylindrical faces 31 and. 35 respectively,

I lprovide spreader rings and 61, which are retained in place by being located in the channels 63 provided by the retaining member 54. These spreader members 60 and 61 may be made rom spring steel, the ten dency of the inner s reader member 60'being to constrict an the tendency of -1 the outer spreader member 61 being to expand. In this manner I have provided a simple and effective means for always retaining the lips 56 and 57 in place, and have thereby reduced the tendency a minimum.

On the extensions 65 of the vsupporting member I pivotally secure arms 66 by means of washers 67 and nuts 68, as shown in Figs.

- 2 and 3. Reins or suspension members 70,

which extend over the walking beam 71, being supported by a bracket 72, are secured to the arms 66, as shown in Fig. 2. The

ends 7 3 of the reins 70 extend into the boresv of a leakage of the liquid 50 to 'er for visual y indicating the weight on said 74 provided by the arms 66, the strands' thereof being segregated and babbitt poured therearound, as indicated at 7 5 in this figure.

For a practical example of the operation of this device, let us consider that the weight of the sucker rods, plunger and the oil above the plunger causes the gauge to indicate a pressure of 4000 pounds. If during the op-l eration of the pump, this ressure should drop to a point noticeably below the 4000- pound area, the driller willknown that a decrease in weight upon the plunger has occurred, which is generallyy traced to a leakage either of the Valves or a leakage be tweenthe plunger and the barrel.

Again, if the gauge 38 indicates a pressure which noticeably exceeds the 4000- ound mark, the driller will know that additonal 'resistance is present in the well. This is generally traced to sand lodging between the plunger andthe barrel, this lodging of the sand resulting either in an excessive leakage of the ump or to a 'freezing of the plunger. By eing previously warned of what may take place atthe bottom of the well, considerable damage, expense and time may be obviated. By the use o my invention the exact condition of the pumping equipment at the bottom of the well is known at all times.

The device presented by my invention is simple and durable, being comprised essentially of two main parts. The novel means of retaining the lipsl of the cup leather in engagement with the side walls reduces the j possibility of leakage to a minimum and assuresva reliable reading at all times. By supporting the supporting member by the pivoted arms, a skewing of the parts will never occur. This arrangement also conduces to reducing the lateral movement in the polish rod.

I claim' as my invention:

1. In combination: a pump having a plunger; means for reciprocating said plunger; and means associated with said pump. plunger for indicating the weight on said lunger.

2. n combination: a pump having a plunger; means for reciprocatin .said plunger; and means associated wit said pum plunger for visually indicating the weig t on said plunger.

3. In combination: a pump having a plunger; means for reciprocating said plunger; and means disposed between said reciprocating means and said pump 'plunger for mdicatin the weight on said lunger.

4. Incom ination: a pump aving a plunger; means for reciprocating said plunger; and means disposed. between said reciprocatin means and vsaid pump plungplunlr,

5. combination: a pump plunger having a string of sucker rods attached thereto; means for reciprocating said plunger through said sucker rods; -and means connected between said reciprocating means and said' sucker rod string for indicating the.-

weight on said plunger.

6. In combination: a pump plunger; a .means for reciprocatingsaid plunger; a supported member connected with -said plunger; a supporting member connected with said reciprocating means; and means associated with said supported and support- 'ing members for indicating theweiglit on said lunger.

combination: Aa pump plunger; a means for reciprocating said` plunger; a supported member connected 'with said plunger; a supporting member connected with said reciprocating means, said supporting means being arranged to support said supported member; a fluid situated between ysaid supported and supporting members,

said fluid being arranged to transfer Weight from said su ported member to sai-d supporting memer; and means actuated by said iuid for indicating the weight on said plunger.

8. In combination: a pump plunger; a walking beam; a supported member connected with said plunger; a supporting member connected with said walking beam;

and means associated with said supported.

and supporting members for indicating the weight on said plunger.

9. In combination: a pump plunger; a

' walking beam; a vsupported member connected with said lunger a supporting mem: ber lconnected Wirth said walking beam, said supporting means being arranged to sup-V port said supported member; a fluid. situated between-said supported and supporting said member may be carried; a support members, said fluid being arranged to transfer weight from said supported member. to said supporting member; and means actuated by said fluid for indicating the weightI on said plunger.

10. A combination as in claim l in which said means for indicating the condition of pump includes: a supporting member .having an annular project-ion; a supported member having an `annular .channel linto which said annular projectionI extends; a liquid in said annular channel, said liquid transferringtheweight' from said supported member to said supporting member; and means communicating with said li uid for indicating the weight transferred y -said liquid.

- m, 11.111' a 10aa indicating device -of the;

class described the combination of :a lsupporting member comprising an annular pro jection and means whereby said sup orting ed) vmemportion exa projection,

ber comprising a cylindrica tending through said .annular 4- member maj7 be carried;

- annular lip extendin liquid disposed; in the 'ber comprising a cylindrica tending through said annular and an annular lip extending and an annular lip extendingaround a portion of said cylindrical portion, thus forming an annular channel, said annular projection extending into said annular channel; a liquid disposed in the part of said channel not occupied by said annular projection; and a ressure gauge connectedto tne portion ofp said annular channel in which' saidliquid is situated.

1 2. I n a load indicating device of the class described the combination of: a supporting member comprising an annular projection and means whereby said supporting a supported member comprising a cylindrical portion extending through Said annular projection, and an annular lip extending around 'a portion of said cylindrical portion, thus forming an annular channel, said annular proection ex'- tending into said annular channel; a liquid disposed in the part of said channel not occupied by said annular projection;'a'pressure gauge connectedto the portion of said annular channel in which said liquid is sit-. uated; and means for preventing 'said liquid from leaking from said annular channel.

13. In a load indicating device of the class` described the combination or: a supporting member comprising an annular projection and means W ereby said supporting member may be carried; a supported meinber comprising a cylindrical portion extending through said lannular projection, and an around a portion of said cylindricalportion, thus forming an annular channel, said annular projection extending into said annular channel; a part of said channel not-occupied by said annular projection; a pressure gauge connected to the portion of said annular channelin which said liquid is situated; a cup leather disposed in said.' annular channel, having inner and outer lips adapted to respectively engage inner and outer walls of saidl annular channel; a circular member whereby said cup leather is secured to an'end face of said annular projection; and means for forcibly retaining said inner and outer lips in engagement with said inner and outer walls of said annular channel.

14. In a load indicating. device of tlieclass described the combination of: a supporting member comprising an annular projection and means whereby said supporting member may be carried; a supported memportion exprojection, around a portion of said cylindi'acal'portion, thus forming an annular channeisaid annular projection extending into'sai'd annular channel' a liquid disposed in the part of said channel pressure gauge connected to the portion of said annular channel in which said liquid is situated; a cup leather disposed in sai 'an'- nular channel, having inner and outer lips adapted to respectively engage inner and outer walls of said annular channel; a circularmember whereby said cup leather is secured to an end face of said annular pro'- jection; and means for forcibly retaining said inner and outer lips .in en agement -with said inner and-outerjwalls o channel, said means comprising` an inner spreader member carried in an inner channel of said circular member and adapted to engage said inner lip,vand an outer spreader member lcarried in an outer j channel of said circular member and adapted to engage said 15. In a load indicating deviceofthe'class described the combination of: a supporting member comprising an 4annular projection said annular and means whereby said supporting member may be carried; a su ported member coiniising .a cylindrica portion extending rough said annular projection', and an annular lpextending around a portion of said cylindrical portion, thus forming an annular channel, said annular projectionextendin into said annular channel; a clamp secure to the-lowerend of said cylindrical portion of said supported member; a liquid disposed in the part of saidchannel not oc- ;cupied by said annular projectiongfand a pressure gauge connected tothe portion of said annular channel in which said liquid is situated. 1

In testimon i whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at" os Angeles',v California, this 6 day of October, 1924.-..

' DELBERT FQ AXELsoN. 

